Radiator cleaning machine



July 11, 1933. c. MARXMAN 1,918,048

RADIATOR CLEANING MACHINE Filed Nov. 25, 1929 Jaye/W (gm/ W fiyfiMQM 21:6AM 4% Patented July 11,1933

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I CARL MARXMAN, 0E ROCHELLE, ILLINOISRADIATOR CLEANING MACHINE Application filed November 25, 1929. SerialNo. 409,471.

F invention to provide a radiator cleaning machine capable of thoroughlycleaning a radiator in a fraction of the time otherwise required andwhich is so simple in construction that it can be built at an extremelylow cost.

Still another object of my invention is to provide an improved method ofcleaning radiators, consisting in continuously forcing the cleaningsolution back and forth through the radiator, instead of continuously inone. direction. and starting the cleaning operation with a comparativelysmall amount of cleaning solution and gradually increasing the amount asthe passages in the radiator become more and more cleared. The re\"ersals are in accordance with the simple harmonic motion of thereciprocating piston or diaphragm and l have found that the cleaning ofa radiator by this method insures a much more thorough 'job in much lesstime than was otherwiserequired. There is the further advantage in thismethod that a reservoir for the cleaning solution is not needed and themachine is generally simplified.

It is a further object of my invention to provide in a machine designedto operate according to the above method, means for gauging theresistance to the flow of the cleaning solution so as to guard againstthe danger of opening up a seam or rupturing some Weak portion of theradiator core or tanks because of excessive pressuredeveloped thereinduring the cleaning operatlon, and to provide a by-pass valve for thecleaning solution which can be opened to cut down the amount of solutionbeing forced through in the event there is indication of too muchpressure being developed.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, showing invertical section a machine embodyingmy invention, connected up with aradiator to be cleaned.

The machine has a suitable base 1 on Whicha hydraulic pump cylinder 2 ismounted vertically with the piston rod 3 for the piston 4 w extendingdownwardly therefrom through a suitable stufiing box 5 provided on thelower end of the cylinder. A pltman 6 is connected to the lower end'ofthe rod 3 and has con'nec- Cr tion with a crank 7 on a shaft 8 mounted Jin the lower end of the base 1. The shaft 8 is driven by an electricmotor 9 suitably supported in the base, which has a belt connec tion 10with apulley 11 on a countershaft 12 and a small pinion 13 on the shaft12 meshes with a gear 14: fixed to the shaft 8. Any other reductiongearing suitable for the purpose might be provided to afford the properratio driving connection between the motor 9 and the pump. Pipes 15 and16 communicate with the upper and lower ends of the cylinder 2 andcommunicate with hose connections 17 and 18 arranged to be attached tothe radiator to be cleaned, such as that shown at 19. The pipes 15 and16 have a by-pass con- 1180131011 20 therebetween, the flow throughwhich is controlled by a valve 21. A tank 22, disposed alongside thepump, has connection with the lower end of the cylinder 2, as in- B6(heated at 23, and has a removable filling cap 24 n the upper endthereof. An air chamber 25 is mounted on the upper end of the cylinder 2and is in restricted communication with the cylinder through a smallhole 26 in the bottom wall thereof. An air pressure gauge 27communicates with the upper end of the chamber 25. 28 is an overflow petcock, and

29 is another pet cock arranged to serve as a safety valve for therelief of pressure in the system, as will presently, appear.

In operation, the radiator to be cleaned is inverted, as indicated, andthe hose 17 fixed to the one connection thereof, and the hose 18 to theother connection, the radiator being.

also at the same time otherwise sealed so as to be water-tight for thepurposes of the cleaning operation. Then the cap 24 is removed from thetank 22 to fill the system with any suitable, but preferably alkalinecleaning solution up to the dot and dash line ar-y, the pet cock 28being left open and being closed as soon as the solution commences toflow therefrom. The cap 24 is then replaced to seal the system. Then,before starting the motor 9, the by-pass valve 21 is opened all the wayso that in the first few reciprocations of the piston 4 the bulk of thesolution is simply by-passed from one end of the cylinder 2 to theother. The motor is then started and, in the reciprocation of thepiston4, a

continuous column of cleaning solution is set into motion, washingquickly back and forth through the passages in the radiator 19, thereversals being naturally in accordance with the simple harmonic motionof the piston which moves the solution. The solution courses through thepassages in the radiator to whatever extent is permitted, assuming thatthe passages are more or less clogged with scum and sediment. Theoperator can tell by reading the gauge 27 whether there is muchresistance to the washing of the solution through the radiator, becauseon each up-stroke of the piston 4, a certain amount of solution willfind its way up into the air chamber 25, more or less, depending on theresistance to the flow of the solution through the radiator. The air insaid chamber is, therefore, more or less compressed, and the pressure isindicated by the gauge. If very little pressure is produced in thechamber 25, the operator knows that the machine is not operating underload and so the valve 21 is given one or more turns so as to cut downthe amount of solution being by-passed. The operator watches the dial 27so as not to restrict the by-pass connection too much, otherwise theremight be danger of a pressure being developed enough to open up a seamin the radiator or rupture the Wall at some weak spot in the core of theradiator. In case a pressure as high as, say, ten pounds is registeredon the dial, the by-pass valve 21 should be opened a trifle. In anemergency, where a high pressure is suddenly developed and there mightbe danger of damage to the radiator, the operator may open the pet cock29 or the pet cock 28, or bot-h, closing the same as soon as the properadjustment has been made on the machine, so that no excessive pressurewill be developed again. During the process of cleaning a radiator, theoperator will now and then adjust the valve 21, as the passages in theradiator become more and more cleared, so as to keep the machineoperating under load and thus speed up the cleaning operation as much aspossible. When the valve 21 can be closed entirely without excessivepressure being indicated by the gauge 27, the operator knows that theradiator is thoroughly clean. It has been found that the continuous,rapid, and regular surging back and forth of the cleaning solution withuniform harmonic motion will loosen up any scum or sediment much morereadily than solution passed through the radiator in one direction,forexample.- In my machine, it is common to have the solution reversedin its direction of flow as many as ninety times per minute. It is dueto this vigorous motion of the solution that a thorough job can he donewith this machine in a fraction of the time required with other machineswith which I am familiar.

It is believed the foregoing description conveys a clear understandingof my invention and all of its advantages over devices that have beenprovided for a similar purpose. The following claims have been drawnwith a view to covering all legitimate modifications and adaptations ofmy invention such as are apt to occur to those skilled in the art,especially after my disclosure. For example, the term piston should betaken in the broad sense as including any form of reciprocating orvibrating diaphragm, it being apparent that such an'element would givesubstantially the same results as the piston herein illustrated anddescribed.

I claim:

1. A device of the class described comprising a vertically disposedcylinder, a piston reciprocable vertically in said cylinder, meanshaving connection with the piston from below the cylinder forreciprocating the same, fluid conduit connections communicating with theupper and lower ends of said cylinder and arranged to be connected withthe inlet and outlet of the chamber or receptacle to be cleaned, an airchamber communicating with the top of said cylinder, a bypass connectionestablishing communication between the upper and lower ends of saidcylinder, a valve for controlling the flow through said connection, afilling tank vertically disposed alongside the cylinder and communicatinwith the lower end thereof, said tank exten ing beyond the upper end ofthe cylinder and having a removable closure therefor, there being anoverflow opening in the air chamber above the cylinder and approximatelyat the same elevation as the upper end of the filling tank, and meansfor closing said overflow opening.

2. A device of the class described comprising a vertically disposedcylinder, a piston reciprocable vertically in said cylinder, meanshaving connection with the piston from below the cylinder forreciprocating the same, fluid conduit connections communicating with theupper and lower ends of said cylinder and arranged to be connected withthe inlet and outlet of the chamber or receptacle to be cleaned, an airchamber communicating the up er and lower ends of said cylinder, a

valve or controlling the flow through saidconnection, a filling tankvertically disposed alongside the cylinder and communicating with thelower end thereof, said tank extendsaid by-pass, whereby to acco ingbeyond the upper end of the cylinder and having a removable closuretherefor, there being an overflow opening in the air chamber above thecylinder and approximately at the same elevation as the upper end of thefillin tank, a valve forclosin said opening, sai

valve being arranged to used as a pressure relief valve to be. openedwhen excessive pressure exists in the air chamber, and another valvecommunicating with the upper end of the filling tank, likewiseadapted tobe used as a pressure relief valve in the event excessive pressure isdeveloped in the cylinder.

3. A device of the class described ada ted for cleaning a chamber orreceptacleby ack and forth flow of cleaning solution through the chamberor receptacle, comprising a pump cylinder, a reciprocatory pumpingelement in said cylinder having a rod extending therefrom for operationthereof from outside the cylinder, power means connected with the rodfor reciprocating said pumping element at a certain speed to move acertain volume of cleaning solution back and forth, the opposite ends ofthe cylinder having openings, a fluid conduit communicating with each ofsaid openings, each conduit be ing adapted for connection at its otherend with the inlet or outlet opening of the chamber in which cleaningsolution is to be moved back and forth, a by-pass for affording directrestricted communication between opposite ends of the cylinder, and amanually adjustable valve for regulating the flow through ly vary theamount of solution caused to ow back and forth in the chamber.

4. A device of the class described adapted for cleaning a chamber orreceptacle by back and forth flow of cleaning solution through thechamber or receptacle, comprising a pump cylinder, a reciprocatorypumping element in said cylinder having a rod extending therefrom foroperation thereof from outside the cylinder, means connected with therod for reciprocating said pumping element, the opposite ends of thecylinder having openings, a fluid conduit communicating with each ofsaid openings, each conduit being adapted for connection at its otherend with the inlet or outlet opening of the chamber or receptacle, anair chamber communicating with one end of said cylinder adapted tocontain air compressed therein by movement of clean- 1 ing solution insaid cylinder, and manually adjustable means for relieving the pressurein said chamber whereby to keep the device operating below predeterminedpressure.

'5. In a device of the class described, a cyl- 75 inder, a pumpingelemnt reciprocable there- 1n, conduits communicating with the oppositeends of the cylinder and adapted to be placed in communication with therespective ends of the chamber or receptacle to be cleaned, 30

whereby when the cylinder and chamber as well as the conduits are filledwith cleaning solution the reciprocation of the pumping element in thecylinder causes the solution to flow back and forth in shortreciprocatory movement in the chamber, power operated means forreciprocating the pumping element at a certain speed to move a certainvolume of cleaning solution back and forth, a by-pass passage to afforddirect communication between opposite ends of the cylinder and amanually adjustable valve for regulating the flow back and forth throughsaid passage, whereby to accordingly vary the amount of solution causedto flow back and forth in the chamber or receptacle to be'cleaned.

6. In a device of the class described, a

cylinder, a pumping element reciprocable therein, conduits comunicatingwith the opposite ends of the cylinder and adapted to be placed incommunication with the respective ends of the chamber or receptacle tobe cleaned, whereby when'the cylinder and chamber as well as theconduits are filled with cleaning solution the reciprocation of thepumping element in the cylinder causes the solution to flow back andforth in short reciprocatory movement in the chamber, power operatedmeans for reciprocating the pumping element, an air chambercommunicating with one end of said cylinder adapted to contain aircompressed therein by movement of cleaning solution in said cylinder,and

manually adjustable means for relieving the pressure in said chamberwhereby to keep the device operating below a predetermined pressure. I

In witness of the foregoing]: aflix my signature.

CARL MARXMAN.

